Five Canadian citizens, including three children, tragically lost their lives in a small plane crash near Nashville, Tennessee, as confirmed by authorities on Tuesday.
The specific details regarding the ages, names, and genders of the victims aboard the flight from Ontario were not immediately available, according to National Transportation Safety Board air safety investigator Aaron McCarter during a press briefing in Nashville.
The single-engine aircraft crashed approximately 60 feet away from the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40, near the Nashville suburb of Charlotte Park, just before 8 p.m. on Monday, according to officials.
The plane had initially circled over John C. Tune Airport at an altitude of 2,500 feet before briefly departing the area. It was returning to the airport when it experienced power loss, McCarter explained.
The crash occurred about 3 miles from the airport.
During communication with air traffic controllers, the pilot remained composed while reporting the rapid descent of the aircraft.
Although Runway 2 at John C. Tune Airport was cleared for the distressed plane, the pilot expressed doubts about reaching the airport, stating, “I’m going to be landing; I don’t know where.”
Despite increasing concerns, controllers encouraged the pilot to continue striving for the airport.
The plane had originated from Ontario and made stops in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Mount Sterling, Kentucky, according to officials.
McCarter noted that the aircraft had maintained a cruising altitude of approximately 10,500 feet for most of the journey without any reported issues.
The final NTSB report, which may take up to a year to complete, will aim to determine the cause of Monday’s tragic crash.